Leaves on the line, and the resulting drop in wheel-rail adhesion, are a perennial problem for railways operating in temperate climates. It has been estimated that the problem costs GB railways over £300 million every year due to lost revenue, performance penalties and the cost...
In June 2017, Rail Safety & Systems Assurance was appointed by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) to review the Safety Management Systems (SMSs) of its Infrastructure Manager and Railway Undertaking arms. The review was prompted by the need to perform an external audit of the SMSs...
Railways are large, complex systems that form a key part of a nation’s transport infrastructure and play a vital role in its economy. Ensuring their safe operation is vital but is difficult to achieve as systems become more complex and inter-connected. To help develop the next...
The ‘Tolerability of Risk’ (TOR) concept is one of the earliest and most misunderstood ways of demonstrating that risks are As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). The TOR approach was developed by the UK nuclear industry to address the annual risk of fatality for individuals. If...
In an earlier Blog, I explained that complying with standards and the use of ‘Reference Systems’ can play important roles in demonstrating that risks are As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). However, it is also necessary to consider new ways of managing risks and, inevitably,...
What does the ‘ALARP Principle’ mean to you? To some people it means “scary approach to safety involving complicated analysis and open-ended safety obligations”. If that is you (or you have never heard the term) this short article aims to de-mystify ALARP. Origins ALARP stands for ‘As...
